Everything about Mohawk Girls, eh?

Link: Mohawk Girls: Six reasons to tune in for Season 4

From Bridget Liszewski of The TV Junkies:

Link: Mohawk Girls: Six reasons to tune in for Season 4
With so many television programs out there it seems there’s a show for everyone. However, it can also mean that viewers are so overwhelmed by all those choices, that a show truly worthy of our time and attention somehow slips under the radar. One show we here at The TV Junkies would hate to see that happen to is APTN’s Mohawk Girls, which returns for Season 4 on Tuesday, October 25 at 9:30 p.m. ET.  Continue reading.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Get ready for Mohawk Girls’ Season 4 with our Season 3 recap!

Season 4 of Mohawk Girls is set to premiere on Tuesday, Oct. 25, at 9:30 p.m. ET on APTN with Episode 1, entitled “Fauxhawk.” But, unless you have been binge watching, it’s been a while since you last caught up with our Kahnawa:ke foursome, so let’s catch you up.

Caitlin’s (Heather White) story arc saw many changes last season, as she sought to grow and heal from past disappointments. Following an abortion, she embarked on a self-improvement path in an effort to boost her self-esteem. Always the stalwart friend, Caitlin was loyal to the end and her growth paid off! Seems she has caught the eye of Luscious Leon, but will Caitlin be able to break her Butterhead (Meegwun Fairbrother) habit? Not to mention the social obstacles the cultural differences a Caitlin-Leon partnership mean in Kahnawa:ke.

The same growth was not to be had by Zoe (Brittany LeBorgne). The harder she tried to be the perfect, hardworking, proud Mohawk woman, the deeper she delved into the world of kink. Zoe went to great lengths to secure her secret and even landed herself a fake boyfriend in Ohserose (Shawn Youngchief). But how will she win her way back into the good graces of the community following the fundraiser? It is going to take something REALLY BIG to make over her reputation after that near disaster!

Bailey (Jenny Pudavick), has been torn with doing right by Mohawk standards and her desire to follow her wander-lustful soul. She found a great Mohawk heart in Watio (Jimmy Blais) but this relationship seems a bit of a misfit. However, Watio is prepared to make significant changes in order to hold Bailey’s heart. In a grand gesture, he gets down on one knee and recites his poetry to her in front of their friends. Oh yeah … and he proposed too! Will Bailey settle down with Watio or follow her inner spirit?

Anna ( Maika Harper) ended her season exactly where she left off: not with Thunder (Kyle Nobess). Despite her pursuit of Mohawk culture and embracing her inner warrior, her desire to fit in as a Mohawk turned her into a woman Thunder can no longer love. Does this spell the end for Team Thanna?

There is one notable change this coming season: Leon is now being played by the adorable and witty Dwain Murphy. He is a great fit to play Leon and the chemistry between Heather White and Murphy make a perfect on-screen couple!

Here is a teaser for Season 4. BTW, I sat down the other day and watched Episode 1 . It is BEAST!

Mohawk Girls airs Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. ET on APTN.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Mohawk Girls, Season Four debuts Tuesday, October 25 on APTN

From a media release:

APTN’s (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network) critically-acclaimed and award-winning dramatic comedy Mohawk Girls returns for season four. The show takes a comedic look at the lives of four modern-day women trying to stay true to their roots while navigating sex, work, love and what it means to be Mohawk in the 21st century.

Filmed and set in Montreal and the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory, the eight-episode, fourth season of the half-hour dramedy premieres Tuesday, October 25 with weekly episodes airing on APTN E, and HD at 9:30 p.m. ET, APTN W at 9:30 p.m. MT and on APTN N on Sundays at 10:30 p.m. CT (premiering on Oct. 30).

Viewers can venture deeper into the world of Mohawk Girls via the interactive website, with a quiz app, behind-the-scenes secrets and entertaining graphic content. The devoted online community of the series can connect via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Tumblr .

This season, the girls are pushed further out of their comfort zones as they deal with interracial dating, politics, wedding planning, love triangles, career aspirations, all as they try to forge their own identities in a community embedded with rules and cultural traditions.

The dynamic cast of four leading women includes returning cast members Jenny Pudavick (Bailey), Brittany LeBorgne (Zoe), Heather White (Caitlin), and Maika Harper (Anna).  Meegwun Fairbrother (Butterhead), Kyle Nobess (Thunder), Jimmy Blais (Watio) and Shawn Youngchief (Ohserase), reprise their roles as the men they love. Also returning, Tantoo Cardinal as Zoe’s mom, Glen Gould as Bailey’s father and Jeffrey Wetsch as James. New this year is Dwain Murphy, who takes over the role of Leon.

The series was nominated for 4 Canadian Screen Awards this spring, including Best Comedy Series, Best Direction in a Comedy Program or Series, Best Writing in a Comedy Program or Series, and Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Comedic Role (Brittany LeBorgne). It has several awards to its name, including a Golden Sheaf Award in the Comedy category at the Yorkton Film Festival, the APTN Award at the Festival Présence Autochtone (Montreal First Peoples’ Festival) and a nomination for Best Sitcom at the Banff Rockie Awards. Spafax has licensed several episodes of the show, airing them on the Comedy TV channel on Air Canada enRoute Inflight Entertainment on domestic and international flights. US distributor GRB represents the show worldwide and Mohawk Girls debuted in Australia on the SBS network in June.

Mohawk Girls is created and executive produced by Tracey Deer and Cynthia Knight; Tracey Deer directs the episodes and Cynthia Knight is the head writer. The series is produced by Rezolution Pictures’ Catherine Bainbridge, Christina Fon and Linda Ludwick, and executive produced by Catherine Bainbridge, Christina Fon, Linda Ludwick and Ernest Webb. Innovate By Day is the Digital Media Producer. Monika Ille is the Executive Director, Programming and Scheduling for APTN.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

APTN reveals exciting 2016 primetime fall programming

From a media release:

Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) announced its fall 2016 schedule today, highlighting a slate of new original series, returning favorites and thought-provoking documentaries – launching on September 5.

Mohawk Girls, Season 4 – What does it mean to be a modern Mohawk women? Sashay with four young women on their comedic and drama filled adventures. Always light-hearted, sexy and fun!

Taken – An all new, hard-hitting, true crime documentary series focusing on solving the mysteries behind Canada’s missing and murdered Indigenous woman and girls.

Moosemeat & Marmalade, Season 2 – Documentary series cooks up new ingredients that lead to new adventures. Explore contrasting culinary cultures and traditions with two very different hunter/chefs.

This upcoming fall, new and loyal fans of Mohawk Girls and The Other Side will have their viewing enhanced with new digital experiences.

Mohawk Girls returns with SSEX (Second Screen Experience) to entice users with entertaining show quotes, character profiles, polls and quizzes, as well as video clips and photo galleries online. Beyond The Other Side App, an interactive quiz with live, stunning imagery that will invite people to answer questions about their beliefs in the paranormal and afterlife.

French and Aboriginal language programming will also premiere on Canada’s only independent Aboriginal network. Clé du studio gathers guest musicians and gives them keys to a recording studio along with complete freedom of creation. From the North, Qanurli? launches into its fifth season filled with comedic charm and social/political issues broadcast in Inuktitut.

Be sure to tune in every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 9:00 p.m. for the colossal APTN Movies lineup. See aptn.ca/movies for the star-studded details!

APTN’s fall 2016 season kicks off September 5. Discover the full programming lineup below, or visit aptn.ca/schedule!

APTN PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS FOR FALL 2016

NEW SEASONS

MOHAWK GIRLS, SEASON 4 (WORLD PREMIERE – DRAMEDY)
Mohawk Girls is light-hearted, sexy and fun. But it’s also honest, real and poignant — Mohawk style!

aptn e Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. ET premieres October 25
aptn w Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. MT premieres October 25
aptn n Sundays at 10:30 p.m. CT premieres October 30
aptn hd Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. ET premieres October 25

MOOSEMEAT & MARMALADE, SEASON 2 (WORLD PREMIERE – DOC SERIES)
From muskrat, porcupine and urchin to goose, join two very different hunter/chefs – one Canadian Cree and one Brit/European – to explore contrasting cultures and traditions through the way we access, cook and present our food.

aptn e Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. ET premieres September 7
aptn w Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. MT premieres September 7
aptn hd Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. ET premieres September 7
Back-to-back episodes
aptn n Thursdays at 2:30 p.m. & 3:30 p.m. CT premieres September 8

THE OTHER SIDE, SEASON 3 (WORLD PREMIERE – DOC SERIES)
Follow a team of paranormal investigators with the guidance of an Elder, who seek the truth behind Canada’s real life ghost stories.

aptn e Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. ET premieres October 27
aptn w Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. MT premieres October 27
aptn hd Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. ET premieres October 27
Back-to-back episodes
aptn n  Fridays at 12:30 p.m. & Saturdays 1:30 p.m. CT premieres October 28

NEW ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY SERIES

TAKEN (WORLD PREMIERE)
Riveting, spine-chilling, important television, Taken confronts, head-on, the national epidemic of Canada’s missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. APTN will be co-broadcasting Taken with CBC.

aptn e Fridays at 7:00 p.m. ET premieres September 9
aptn w Fridays at 7:00 p.m MT premieres September 9
aptn n Fridays at 7:00 p.m CT premieres September 9
apt hd Fridays at 7:00 p.m ET premieres September 9
Back-to-back episodes

MOHAWK IRONWORKERS (WORLD PREMIERE)
Come celebrate the steely determination of “the best ironworkers on the planet.” Mohawk Ironworkers uses a mixture of dramatic “high steel” footage, and archival material, as they face the reality of one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet.

aptn e Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. ET premieres September 6
aptn w Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. MT premieres September 6
aptn n Wednesdays at 12:30 a.m. CT premieres September 7
aptn hd Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. ET premieres September 6

WILD ARCHAEOLOGY (WORLD PREMIERE)
Exciting never-before-seen adventures into Canada’s ancient Aboriginal past that is scattered, fragmented and could be lost forever. Twelve thousand years of human inhabitation vividly brought to life.

aptn e Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. ET premieres September 6
aptn w Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. MT premieres September 6
aptn n Saturdays at 1:00 p.m. CT premieres September 10
aptn hd Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. ET premieres September 6

KONNECTED.TV (WORLD PREMIERE)
Follow Pakesso Mukash on his quest into Indigenous cultures across the Americas to find a young generation of “tradition keepers” who awaken others to find a place for themselves in a modern world.

aptn e Wednesday at 8:00 p.m ET premieres November 2
aptn w Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. MT premieres November 2
aptn n Fridays at 1:00 p.m. CT premieres November 4
aptn hd Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. ET premieres November 4
Back-to-back episodes

FRENCH LANGUAGE SERIES

CLÉ DU STUDIO (FRENCH WORLD PREMIERE – MUSIC & VARIETY SERIES)
Guest musicians are given the keys to a recording studio for an informal jam. The intimate setting and freedom of creation give way to moving confidences and magical moments.

aptn e Mondays at 8:00 p.m. ET premieres September 5
aptn hd Mondays at 8:00 p.m. ET premieres September 5

MOTETAN MAMO (FRENCH WORLD PREMIERE – DOC SERIES)
The Atikamekw are relatively unknown nation to Canadians. The two live different realities but they face similar challenges and issues. Motetan Mamo (Walking Together) will take you on an unfamiliar journey to familiar places.

aptn e Mondays at 7:00 p.m. ET premieres September 5
aptn hd Mondays at 7:00 p.m. ET premieres September 5

ABORIGINAL LANGUAGE SERIES

QANURLI?, SEASON 5 (INUKTITUT WORLD PREMIERE – YOUTH SERIES)
Unpredictable, hilarious and fun! This Inuktitut comedy show puts a playful and humorous spin on political, social and traditional issues relevant to the Inuit.

aptn n Mondays at 7:00 p.m. CT premieres September 5
Back-to-back episodes

URBAN NATIVE GIRL (DENE WORLD PREMIERE – LIFESTYLE SERIES)
Join Aboriginal fashionista, Lisa Charleyboy, as she follows her dream of transforming her online fashion blog into a glossy print magazine.

aptn e Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. ET premieres September 6
aptn w Mondays at 7:00 a.m. MT premieres September 12
aptn n Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. CT premieres September 6
aptn hd Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. ET premieres September 6
Back-to-back episodes

MOTETAN MAMO (ATIKAMEKW WORLD PREMIERE – DOC SERIES)
The Atikamekw are relatively unknown nation to Canadians. The two live different realities but they face similar challenges and issues. Motetan Mamo (Walking Together) will take you on an unfamiliar journey to familiar places.

aptn e Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. ET premieres September 8
aptn w Thursdays at 10:00 a.m MT premieres September 8
aptn n Thursdays at 10:00 a.m CT premieres September 8
aptn hd Thursdays at 10:00 a.m ET premieres September 8
Back-to-back episodes

LA VIE EST HOCKEY (ATIKAMEKW WORLD PREMIERE – DOC SERIES)
Follow eight minor hockey players from different Aboriginal communities in Quebec, on their ultimate quest: the National Aboriginal Hockey Championship.

aptn e Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. ET premieres September 8
aptn w Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. MT premieres September 8
aptn n Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. CT premieres September 8
aptn hd Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. ET premieres September 8
Back-to-back episodes

APTN KIDS

LOUIS SAYS, SEASON 2 (CREE WORLD PREMIERE – ANIMATED SERIES)
Follow the adventures of six-year-old boy Randy as he joins Louis, an Elder, on his mission to help people in his community. Completing meaningful tasks together, Louis reinforces important values while teaching Randy new words in Dene.

aptn e Sundays at 8:25 a.m. ET premieres September 11
aptn w Sundays at 8:25 a.m. MT premieres September 11
aptn n Sundays at 7:32 a.m. CT premieres September 11
aptn hd Sundays at 8:25 a.m. ET premieres September 11

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Working It Out Together: Heather White – Rebel with a Cause

Episode 7 of Working It Out Together examines the common literary trope so prevalent in mainstream arts: the Indian Princess/Pocahontas, and the harm that has come to Indigenous women due to the pervasiveness of that stereotype in society today. For centuries the “Indian Princess” has been recognized as an erotic thing, a sexual dream or ideal that exists only for the European white male. The process of colonization reshaped strong beautiful women into the hyper-sexualized noble savage, only to be dominated by all men. Today we witness the harm this archetype has perpetuated with the aid of such movements as “Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women”.

This week features the story of Heather White, one of the lead actresses on the popular award winning television show  Mohawk Girls, created and directed by Tracey Deer. However, White is also a High School language arts teacher at Kahnawa:ke Survival School. It is here that she cultivates a safe environment for her students to discuss and challenge how media shapes their concepts of women and beauty. “As actors, our job is constantly to tell the story through someone else’s vision, but as a teacher that is where I get to be myself.”

With her first hand experiences on Mohawk Girls, White is able to teach her students about the extensive work that goes into the manufacturing of media as art, be it television programming, magazines, posters, or film. In this way her students understand that it is “ok when they walk in the world that they walk into one that is real. That it is 100% ok for them to be who they are, to walk this world proud of who they are.”

Earlier this week White discussed with me how her new found celebrity has given her the the platform to make human connections: “It is a great opportunity to tell people ‘this is who I am, this what I do and this is what I think’. To be able to say all of the things that I wish were said to me when I was younger, I think that is the greatest thing for me. There were no trail blazers like me and I grew up not seeing it. I am only now starting to see different women.”

White’s father Sykes Powderface, also featured in this week’s episode, explains the traditional position of women in the community: “Women were the most respected individuals in the community. Without women, there are no more children. You must always take care of the women, that was the first order that was taught to us.”

Michele Audette, Indigenous women’s rights advocate, explains that women had their roles, that men and women knew exactly what they were supposed to do “for the community, for the family, and for them self.” With the men off hunting for months at a time, it was the women who were the leaders in the community. But when the Europeans began to settle “this all changed; spirituality became religion, they changed our language, and they changed our system of our society. ”

When speaking with White, she reflected on what Mohawk Girls is really about, and what it means to women who watch. “Mohawk Girls could have been anything, and that is the most satisfying part of it. But it is not just about us (Indigenous women). There are so many universal themes that bind us (all women) all together and that is a gift in itself.”

 

 

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail